TERRE HAUTE, IN - Bennett Melita (Johnstown, NY/Fonda Fultonville) competed in the NCAA DIII Men's Cross Country National Championship on Saturday afternoon. Out of a field of 294 runners, Melita placed 164th.
 
Clocking in with a time of 25:34.0, Melita has etched himself into the Pioneer history books with the highest finish for Utica ever at a national meet. Melita was the first men's cross country runner for the Pioneers to ever qualify for the national race after a ninth place overall finish at the Niagara Regional back on November 16. Melita was the 41st top finisher out of those who competed individually, and were not a part of a full scoring team. 
 
Taking home the national championship was the University of Wisconsin La-Crosse, with an average time of 24:25.7, and the top non-scoring finisher was Mohammed Bati from Augsburg with a time of 24:03.7.